What are you inspired by? - Shoutout South Carolina

One of our favorite things to do is to ask the folks we are inspired by what they are inspired by. We’ve shared some of their responses below.

Carla Damron | Novelist, Social Worker, Advocate

As an author, my experiences and my imagination are my biggest sources of inspiration. In my other professional life, I’m a social worker, and that profession has introduced me to amazing people dealing with challenging situations. Their resiliency has taught me more than any textbook could. I try to capture that in my novels–I write about the struggles but also about the power of recovery and resilience. Social work has also given me a special look into social issues that affect us, that trouble me. Those issues always work their way into my writing. Read more>>

RJ Swist | Founder, RJ’s Mission Foundation

Inspired isn’t the word I would use. One conversation with a Marine Veteran friend struggling with mental illness is where RJ’s Mission Foundation was sparked. During that conversation with my buddy, he needed help and told me he was going to kill himself right then. I didn’t know what to do but knew what I did next would matter. Saying it inspired me would be strange to me. I would say that conversation was the epiphany I needed to start something greater than myself. Read more>>

Gritty Flyright | Singer/Songwriter

I’m inspired by my friends, family, musicians, and essentially the music itself…I’m probably most driven by hearing a story that moves me emotionally. I am always in search of an artist that can arrange the lyrics to strike an emotional chord or connect me to the imagery in the song. Currently, the two living songwriters that I draw a great deal of inspiration from are Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers. They both consistently engage the heart with their songs and I’m grateful to be exposed to such incredible storytellers. Read more>>

Julie & Matt Hina | Artisans & Nature Lovers

We are inspired by nature. We find everything we need in nature and strive to capture its essence in each handmade product we produce. Nature heals, soothes, and nurtures the senses; something we aim to do for each customer that utilizes our products. Nature facilitates connection, love, and adventure which are all things we cherish deeply, particularly now that we’ve started a family of our own. Our 2-year-old son enjoys his time outdoors and we have dedicated our focus to ensuring that he understands and appreciates the magical qualities Mother Earth possesses. Read more>>

Brandi Carter | Business Owner

On August 30th, we lost our son. Although Stone Henry Carter was only here for a short time, he left the biggest impact on our lives. We knew upon hearing the news that he passed away that God was in control, and that Stones life would have meaning. Read more>>